The Children of the Roses Published Book Reviews See complete details about The Children of the Roses including immediate purchase options. The darkly hilarious sequel to The War of the Roses.

Some advance comments on The Children of the Roses

"A funny new spin on dysfunctional family life - engrossing, unpredictable and touching."-Sidney Sheldon, best-selling author

"Adler recreates the epic marital bickering that made the original War of the Roses such juicy movie material." -Publishers Weekly

"Strangely compelling." -Kirkus Reviews

"Warren Adler has delivered a racy fast-paced read. This sequel to that highly acclaimed bestseller is full of drama, suspense, tension and at times great hilarity. This is one of those books that's hard to put down until the last page is read. Clever plotting and terrific dialogue make it a page turner."-Barbara Taylor Bradford, author of Emma's Secret

"In War of the Roses (1986), Adler set the ultimate standard for dysfunctional families. Now in his long-awaited sequel, the sins of the father are visited upon the next generation of Rose offspring…Adultery, blackmail, rape, and arson all factor into the downfall of the next crop of Roses, yet Adler's gift is to turn these outrageously bleak scenarios into outrageously appealing black comedy." -Booklist

"More than 20 years after the publication of The War of the Roses, the divorce story that inspired the famous movie starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, author Warren Adler returns with a biting sequel. Just when it seems the Rose children are headed for self-destruction, hilarious and unpredictable events intervene in Adler's wicked follow-up."-Pages, Recommended

NewsOK.com
by Ann DeFrange

2nd Generation of Roses Divorce

Remember Mr. and Mrs. Rose from Warren Adler's book The War of the Roses and the movie it inspired? That couple had the nastiest divorce in modern literature.

Adler has produced a sequel, The Children of the Roses (Sourcebooks, $22.) The Roses left two children, Josh and Evie. They're all grown up, and even though they can't pass a crystal chandelier without some queasy qualms, they're functioning, for better or worse.

Josh and Victoria, another victim of family dysfunction, entered into the perfect marriage and produced two children.

Evie, a good cook like her unfortunate mother, believes that food is love and has eaten herself into gigantic proportions. She brings home undesirable men and is selling off what is left of the antiques her parents collected and battled over.

Josh's son is caught in a dishonest caper at school. Victoria is lured into sexual blackmail by the headmaster to keep her perfect child in the perfect school.

At the same time, Josh is in an affair with a woman at his office. The ideal couple plan the ideal divorce. They agree to rotate weeks living in the house with the children.

Josh sneaks his sister into the house during his weeks; she overfeeds and loves the children. Victoria brings her mother in to help; she poisons their hearts.

The situation grows nasty. Revenge is at work in both sexual affairs. Household art objects are again an issue. Psychological warfare goes into effect. The children act out. The house catches fire. And the reader who knows the history of the Roses knows the story could go either way. The younger generation could re-enact their parents' destruction in some bizarre and grisly manner, or the children could opt for a better life and break the pattern.

Adler handles the ending well. Readers will be satisfied and entertained.

See complete details about The Children of the Roses including immediate purchase options.